2014 Jimmy John’s Freaky Fast 300 Odds, Picks and Predictions: Favorites, Sleepers and Drivers to Avoid:For the second time this year, the Nationwide Series will visit Chicagoland Speedway. Unlike the first race of the track, the Cup Series will also be in town this weekend, meaning the level of competition will be a little tougher as multiple Cup regulars pull double duty, including defending race winner Kyle Busch. With that in mind, here is a closer look at the drivers with the best chance of ending up in victory lane in Saturday’s Nationwide race at Chicagoland.
The Favorites
He absolutely crushed the competition a couple of weeks ago at Atlanta, and Kevin Harvick will try to do the same this weekend at Chicagoland. In fact, he will be going for his third career Nationwide win at the track this weekend. In addition to his two victories, Harvick has four top-five finishes in his last six starts at Chicagoland.
Not only is he the defending winner of this weekend’s race, but Kyle Busch has been a major threat when he has been behind the wheel at Chicagoland in the Nationwide Series. He has finished in the top five in six of his last seven starts at the track, and more impressively, he has three wins and two second-place finishes in his last six starts at Chicagoland.
Although it has been several years since Denny Hamlin has run a Nationwide race at Chicagoland, he has been rock solid in all of his starts at the track. He has a 9.5 average finish in four starts, and he has never finished outside the top 15. Meanwhile, Hamlin finished second in his most-recent start at Chicagoland, and the fact that he is one of the most experienced and accomplished drivers in the field this weekend will also give him a leg up on the competition.
Other Contenders
When the Nationwide Series visited Chicagoland earlier this year, rookie Chase Elliott ended up in victory lane. Granted, the field wasn’t quite as loaded as it will be this weekend, but Elliott has gotten the better of some Cup Series regulars all year three of his victories this year, and all three of his victories have come at intermediate ovals. He certainly won’t be intimidated this weekend.
He finished a career-best third at Chicagoland earlier this year, and Kyle Larson has been on the steadiest performers in the Nationwide Series in 2014. In 21 starts, he has amassed two wins, 11 top-five finishes and 17 top-10s. On top of that, Larson has finished third in the last two races at 1.5-mile tracks this year so Chicagoland’s layout should suit his driving style.
Earlier this year, Ryan Blaney made his first Nationwide starts at Chicagoland, and he responded with a top-10 finish. The young driver has been excellent whenever he has been given a chance to drive this year, and in nine starts, he has eight top-10s, five top-five finishes and a win. Blaney has flashed a ton of talent in his brief career, and the fact he will be driving for a No. 22 Team Penske team that is one of the best in the series only enhance his chances.
Sleeper Special
It hasn’t been the best year for Trevor Bayne, but one of his bright spots came earlier this year at Chicagoland when he made a late charge through the field that ultimately ended with a second-place finish. Meanwhile, he has two top-three finishes at Chicagoland in his career, and he has only finished outside the top 15 once in seven starts. If he is going to pull off a surprise win this year, Chicagoland seems like a likely spot.
Big Name to Avoid
He is normally one of the most consistent drivers in the Nationwide Series, but Regan Smith has had his issues at Chicagoland over the years. He has an ugly 22.7 average finish in six starts at the track, and he has never finished in the top 10. Smith finished 16th at Chicagoland earlier this year, and at this point, it would be a shock if he finished in the top five, let alone won the race.
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